Buggy-top raiser.



Patented July 29, I902.

M. BROWN.

BUGGY TOP RAISER.

(Application filed. Nov. 12, 1901.)

. (No Model.)

' [NVENTOR Luz.-

m: ncnms PETERS cu. PHOYO-LITHO. WASHINGTON ay 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

MORGAN BROWN, OF LIFSEY, GEORGIA.

BUGGY-TOP RAISER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,901, dated July 29, 1902.

Application filed November 12, 1901. Serial No. 82,004. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, MORGAN BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Lifsey, inthe county of Pike, State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buggy-Top Raisers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

This invention relates to tops for vehicles, and particularly to means for raising and lowering them without the occupant of the vehicle changing his position therein and which, furthermore, will enable a person toraise and lower the top from the exterior of the Vehicle.

and at either side thereof. 7 V

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which may be easily and quickly applied to and removed from a ve hicle-top and in the operation of which the final movements will be retarded to prevent jolting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure lis a side elevation showing a buggy-top with the present invention-applied thereto, the position ofv the lever and'the connected brace when the lever is raised being indicated in dotted lines. Fig.2 is atop plan view of the double rock-leverwith the back braces of the top connected thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation showing the manner of clamping the back braces to the rock-lever. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4: 4 of Fig. 2 and showing the manner of connecting the helical springs.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a buggy comprising the box 5 and the seat 6 and connected to which seat, at the forward portions thereof and at each side, is a bracket 7, to which are pivoted the upwardlydiverging braces 8, 9, and 10, connected'at their upper ends to the top-frame in the usual manner and having the usual knuckle-braces between them.

This rock-lever consists of a central portion ,or shaft 14, mounted for oscillation in bearings 15 and 16, which are secured to the rear portion of the vehicle-seat, and at the ends of the shaft are the handle portions 17 and 18,

which extend forwardly at right angles to the shaft and project with their free ends beyond the front edge of the vehicle-seat, so that the shaftfmay be rocked and both handles raised or lowered by manipulation of a single handle. I The members 13 are connected rigidly to the handle portions adjacent to the shaft by means of clamps 19, each comprising two plates havin g registering channels. The plates are adj usted at opposite sides of the brace and hendle to be connected, and a bolt 20 is engaged therewith to hold them securely in place and clamp the membersrigidly together. Then if either handle be moved the other handle will be similarly moved through the medium of the connecting-shaft, and the members 13 at both sides will be correspondingly operated. If the handles be raised, the knuckle-brace will be broken and the top moved backwardly and lowered, while if the handles be then moved in the opposite direction the top will be raised untilthe knuckle-brace is again straight. v

To prevent jarring of the structure at the limits of movement of the top, helical springs 22 and 23 are provided andare disposed to encircle the shaft, the inner ends of the springs'being engaged by the heads of the bolts 24, which hold the bearing-boxes in place, while the outer ends of the springsare engaged beneath the heads of the bolts20. At both limits of movement of the rock-lever the spring is under tension at each end of the shaft.

In practice modifications of the specific construction shown may be made and any suitable materials and proportions may be used the shaft secured to the vehicle and comprisfor the various parts without departing from ing movable members and bolts for holding the spirit of the invention. them in position, and helical springs wound I5 What is claimed isi upon the shaft and each having its ends re- 5 The combination with a vehicle-top and the spectively clamped beneath the heads of the rear knuckle-braces thereof, of a rock-shaft, I bolts of the clamps and bearings. handles, clamps each comprising two plates I In testimony whereof I affix my signature having converging channels and a clampingin presence of two Witnesses.

bolt engaged through the plates said plates MORGAN BROWN. 10 being disposed with their corresponding channels in registration, with a knuckle-brace and a handle therein respectively, bearings for Witnesses:

J. W. DEAN, JAs. M. SMITH. 

